1763 The Treaty of Paris of 1763[10] Marked the victories of Britain over France and its allies in the Seven Years War. Britain was awarded Quebec, Cape Breton Island, Dominica, Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Minorca and Senegal, from France, together with nearly all of its possessions in India.

1878 The Congress of Berlin[21] resolves the disputes over navigation and commercial rights in the Congo River basin and sets the rules for further African acquisitions by European powers. Britain acquires Cyprus.

From Empire to Commonwealth

(The dates of independence quoted below come from Entering and Exiting the British Empire, and the History Today Companion to British History is the source of other statements, except where otherwise indicated. )

The Wind of Change speech[34] "The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. We must all accept it as a fact, and our national policies must take account of it."

1961 British Cameroons, Sierra Leone, and Tanganyika become independent.